California is putting at least $28 million toward more public EV fast chargers – and it could pick up the entire eligible installation bill.
The state’s Fast Charge California Project opens for applications today, October 7, offering up to $100,000 per charging port. Businesses, nonprofits, public agencies, and eligible California tribes can apply, but the EV fast chargers have to be open to the public.
That gives property owners a way to add fast charging with a lot less upfront expense, while giving EV drivers more places to plug in.
The California Energy Commission funds the project through the California Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Project (CALeVIP), its statewide EV charging incentive program. The Center for Sustainable Energy (CSE) handles the program for the commission.
The size of the incentive depends on how much power each port can deliver. Ports with a guaranteed output of 150 kW to just under 275 kW qualify for up to $55,000. Ports delivering at least 275 kW qualify for up to $100,000.
Those dollars can cover up to 100% of approved costs, including the chargers, installation, planning, and engineering. The per-port caps still apply, so a more expensive project won’t necessarily get its whole bill paid.
The funding is for projects that are ready to build. That means applicants already have a final utility service design, or a letter from the utility confirming that no new or upgraded service is needed, and permits in place.
“We’ve learned through CALeVIP that the fastest way to get chargers in the ground is to fund projects that are truly ready to build,” said Scott Shepard, CSE’s senior director of transportation programs. “When permitting and utility coordination are already underway, incentive dollars can turn into working chargers much faster.”
Applications close January 14, 2027. Once the window closes, eligible applications will be funded in the order they came in, with qualifying projects in disadvantaged, low-income, and tribal communities getting priority.
Before applying, property owners should check whether their location qualifies. CALeVIP’s program page says charging hubs, hotels, and business districts are no longer eligible site types for this round. At least half of the connectors installed at each funded site must also be CCS.
The new round follows $56.9 million awarded in spring 2026 to fund more than 1,266 ready-to-build DC fast-charging ports. Those projects span all 58 California counties, and more than 67% of the funded chargers were installed or planned in disadvantaged, low-income, and tribal communities.
CSE says CALeVIP has supported 10,200 charger installations since the program launched in 2017. Funding comes from the Energy Commission’s Clean Transportation Program and California’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.
CALeVIP’s EV Charging Opportunity Finder maps existing chargers, local EV registrations, and community data to help property owners assess potential sites.
Applicants can find the full rules on the CALeVIP website. Another application window is scheduled for February 24 through May 27, 2027, with incentives of up to $55,000 per port.
Read more: EVgo’s 750 kW charging system is coming in 2027
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